Manchester United defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic has revealed that he almost left Old Trafford without appreciating the fans.
Recall that on May 2, 2022, Manchester United played their last home game of the season which was against Brentford. Fortunately for Manchester United which struggled to win games in most parts of the season, beat Brentford 3-0 in front of over 75,000 spectators at Old Trafford.
After the game, Manchester United players and coaching staff went around the pitch applauding the spectators as a sign of appreciation for the fans’ support in the horrible season.
While the players were going around giving the fans a lap of appreciation, Nemanja Matic attempted to run to the dressing room. But before he could do that, Cristiano Ronaldo convinced him to stay back to appreciate the fans.
Nemanja Matic who is expected to leave Manchester United at the end of the 2021-2022 season and whose last game for the Red Devils was the 3-0 win over Brentford, obeyed Ronaldo by staying back to appreciate the fans.
In an interview with K1 Televizija, Nemanja Matic admitted that it was an honor to share the dressing room with Cristiano Ronaldo, revealing how the 37-year-old five-time Ballon d’Or winner convinced him to have a proper farewell at Old Trafford.
“I feel great and it’s great to say goodbye to the club and the fans in such a wonderful way. There were 75,000 people in the stands,” the 33-year-old Serbian defensive midfielder said.
“I wanted to leave a mark in that club, after Nemanja Vidic, who was the first to do so. But everything beautiful has an end. I tried to brighten the face of all people in Serbia with my game, and I hope that someone from our region will continue this tradition.
“I wanted to get off the field as soon as possible because I don’t like to have something revolving around me and to be in the center of attention, but Ronaldo told me ‘Wait, what are you doing? Come back. It is a great honor to share a dressing room with him every day.
“I don’t like to talk about myself, it should be done by others, and nowadays, because of the internet and new technologies, with one click you can find out everything about what I did and what I achieved.”
The football journey of Nemanja Matic
Nemanja Matic started his professional football career at a Serbian club, Kolubara on July 1, 2005. After spending two seasons at another Serbian club, MFK Košice, Matic made his first big career move to Chelsea on August 18, 2009, for a transfer fee worth just €1.75 million.
Matic failed to establish himself at Chelsea. Hence, the Premier League club transferred him to Benfica for a transfer fee worth €5 million on July 1, 2011.
The Serbian footballer returned to Chelsea on January 15, 2014, for a transfer fee worth €25 million. He played for the west London club for three seasons before the club sold him to Manchester United on July 31, 2017, for a transfer fee worth €44.70 million.
Since he joined Manchester United in 2017, Nemanja Matic has played 189 games in all competitions in which he provided 11 assists and scored 4 goals as a defensive midfielder.
Unfortunately for him, he could not help Manchester United to win any major title. Matic recorded his biggest football achievements at Chelsea where he won three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, and one league cup.
As for his national team, Matic who made his international debut on 14 December 2008, played 48 games for Serbia’s national team in which he scored two goals.
Matic who reportedly earned £18,720,000 in the last three years as a Manchester United player, has been married to a Serbian lady, Aleksandra Pavić since 2010.
Matic and Aleksandra are blessed with three children – two daughters Tea and Anika; and a son Filip.
